As he neared the group, Grunmir slowed whilst the other woyaks rushed past. Iwa couldn’t look as the sounds of battle closed in around her, the roar of Karzełek mixed with the cries of men. Over to one side the Karzełek felled the next post and Iwa sensed that the barrier had weakened. Lord Bethrayal roared, his spirit crying out in his anguish to be revenged. Quickly, the Karzełek set about uprooting another post, but the woyaks were on them, a spear catching the leader in the temple as he turned to face the foe, his snakes flashing their fangs in a final act of defiance. The rest fared better; a woyak fell clutching his face, blood pouring through his fingers.
There was another flight of arrows, some of them falling so close that Iwa had little choice other than to duck behind the shields. Where has Miskyia got to? As soon as the arrows stopped, she couldn’t help but peer around the edge of the shields, but there was no sign of the woman. Miskyia can take care of herself, but will she have time for me? Iwa shivered: she doubted that she could bind the Lord Bethrayal by herself. At least the battle appeared to be going well – two woyaks had fallen under Karzełek clubs and a third lay dying, the shattered remnants of a spear spilling his guts on the floor. Suddenly the world crackled around her, her vision blurring as if she had been pulled underwater.
She was no longer on the ground, but high above the battle with the barrier blazing all around. She saw through Lord Bethrayal’s eyes, felt his pain and his anger, the frustration mounting as he crashed against the barrier. But this time it began to bulge, the magic stretched thin as, down below, the animal skulls winced and the fires burnt low. Then there was an almighty crash.
Iwa blinked, her cheek stinging as a spear battered one of the shields, the force of the blow quivering through the hide. With a howl of rage the Karzełek lurched forward, but a savage bark from his mate stopped him and the shield held firm. She hardly noticed. Part of her was with Lord Bethrayal as the woyaks turned and fled before him. There was a sharp ringing sound as a stone mace shattered the skull of a fleeing woyak in a shower of tiny fragments.
Only Grunmir remained, four Karzełek closing in on him. Then she realised why he’d slowed before the attack. Unlike the other woyaks, Grunmir kept his shield strapped to his back as, in both hands, he wielded a battle axe. With a roar the Karzełek charged, but Grunmir kept his nerve, the axe blade dancing through the air as he sang his battle song, his eyes filled with bloodlust and anger. A Karzełek thrust out with his spear, but Grunmir dodged and whirled the axe round to narrowly miss his opponent. However, one of the snakes had been too eager and its head flew off into the night.
As the axe flew past, the Karzełek struck, the spear point driven up towards Grunmir’s throat. With an almost unbelievable speed, the axe whipped round to slice through the Karzełek’s skull. The creature stepped forward, a look of amazement across its face, the spear tip still thrust upward, but Grunmir had already turned aside. Almost serenely the Karzełek dropped to the ground, the spear falling from its hands. With a howl of rage the other Karzełek pressed forward, their shields locked together.
One of them lunged, shield raised to parry the axe blow, spear ready for the thrust into Grunmir’s gut once the axe had been knocked aside, but the axe head drove hard into his shield and shattered it while the blade took off his head in one swift blow. Now it was Grunmir who advanced, his axe smashing through blood and bone, ripping the hide shields to shreds until he stood alone, the bodies of the Karzełek scattered about him.
Above her Iwa could sense her guards’ rage, their shields quivering as they fought back the desire to kill. Suddenly the Karzełek raised their spears: Grunmir was coming for them. But as he neared, a third stepped forward, his club flailing wildly. Grunmir turned to meet the new threat, his head ducking back as the club whizzed past his face. Still the axe continued its dance as the snakes reared, ready to strike should Grunmir’s guard fall. There was a spear thrust at his neck, swift and deadly for all the Karzełek’s bulk, but Grunmir stepped aside. It was just enough to let the blade slip harmlessly past and for the axe to swing behind the Karzełek shield and slice through the armpit.
As his opponent fell, Grunmir stepped forward, axe at the ready as he faced Iwa’s guards. Then he began to run, not towards the group, but away. Up above, there was a piteous rending as the barrier collapsed and Lord Bethrayal pushed into the camp, Wislaw’s magic torn in shreds before him. Iwa sensed his triumph as the grass withered beneath his feet.
‘Keep with the Lord Bethrayal,’ Miskyia said, kneeling by Iwa’s side.
‘I thought you’d been killed.’
‘I have my ways and means of protection. You’ll have to keep close
